The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) circulated an urgent bulletin dated 22 February 2026, asking member unions to support Italian colleagues during a 24-hour strike scheduled for 26 February. The stoppage will involve all ITA Airways staff as well as easyJet pilots and cabin crew based in Italy. In the confidential circular, Italian pilots’ union ANPAC accuses ITA management of offering “unacceptable” terms in collective-labour-agreement (CLA) talks, leaving salaries “well below any acceptable threshold,” while easyJet negotiators, it says, “continue to refuse to give acceptable answers”.
![ITA Airways and easyJet crews confirm 26 February walk-out; IFALPA issues mutual-assistance alert]()
While travelers grapple with the possibility of canceled flights or rerouted connections, VisaHQ can smooth at least one part of the journey: travel documentation. The company’s specialists can advise on Schengen requirements, arrange expedited Italian visa processing, or sort out transit visas needed because of last-minute itinerary changes. Travel managers can find full details at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
The unions point out that an earlier strike date (16 February) was blocked by Transport Minister Matteo Salvini to protect Olympic traffic and have vowed to proceed now that the Games are finished. IFALPA requests a ban on wet-leasing replacement aircraft, a capacity freeze by partner airlines and practical assistance for crews stranded away from home bases. The industrial action falls one day before the newly announced national rail strike, raising the spectre of multi-modal disruption during the busiest post-Olympic departure window. Corporate travel departments should monitor airline re-accommodation emails closely. Under EU261, passengers are entitled to re-routing or refunds, but seat availability will tighten quickly because many charter flights for Olympic delegations are being repositioned empty. Companies with critical itineraries on 26 February should consider moving staff forward to 25 February or defer travel until 27 February evening, after the strike ends.
While travelers grapple with the possibility of canceled flights or rerouted connections, VisaHQ can smooth at least one part of the journey: travel documentation. The company’s specialists can advise on Schengen requirements, arrange expedited Italian visa processing, or sort out transit visas needed because of last-minute itinerary changes. Travel managers can find full details at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
The unions point out that an earlier strike date (16 February) was blocked by Transport Minister Matteo Salvini to protect Olympic traffic and have vowed to proceed now that the Games are finished. IFALPA requests a ban on wet-leasing replacement aircraft, a capacity freeze by partner airlines and practical assistance for crews stranded away from home bases. The industrial action falls one day before the newly announced national rail strike, raising the spectre of multi-modal disruption during the busiest post-Olympic departure window. Corporate travel departments should monitor airline re-accommodation emails closely. Under EU261, passengers are entitled to re-routing or refunds, but seat availability will tighten quickly because many charter flights for Olympic delegations are being repositioned empty. Companies with critical itineraries on 26 February should consider moving staff forward to 25 February or defer travel until 27 February evening, after the strike ends.
